Cong can win on its own in Haryana, no talks with any party for alliance: Hooda
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Haryana chief minister
New Delhi: The Congress is capable of winning the Haryana assembly polls on its own and no talks have been held with any party for an alliance, former Harayana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said, indicating that his party may not have a tie-up with the AAP in the upcoming elections. Hooda also stressed that winnability would be the criteria for ticket distribution for the assembly polls.
Asked if there is a possibility of a tie-up with its INDIA bloc partner Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the State elections, the senior Congress leader said, "We have an alliance at the national level (with the AAP) but as far as State level is concerned, no talks have been held with any party." "The Congress is capable (to win) on its own. No talks have been held," the two-time chief minister said.
About alliances especially in States such as Haryana, Congress general secretary, in-charge organisation, KC Venugopal had said, "We have already discussed the poll preparations in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Wherever alliances are needed, the local unit is deciding, they will go for that."
Hooda's remarks also came weeks after Congress general secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh said there does not appear to be much scope for an alliance between the Congress and the AAP for the assembly polls in Haryana and Delhi but the INDIA bloc will fight elections together in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Ramesh had said there is no one formula the INDIA bloc will follow for State elections. The grouping will fight together in States where Congress leaders and other alliance partners agree to such an understanding, he had said. The Congress and the AAP had fought the Lok Sabha polls together in Delhi while they contested separately in Punjab. The Congress had given one seat to the AAP in Harayana in the general elections. Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra are slated to go for assembly polls later this year. Elections are due early next year in Delhi.
